In other yarny news

1. I tried to resurrect my Lacy Scallops socks.  Tried being the operative word.  Forgetting that I'd made some modifications in the first one (I made it shorter, so I started with the stitch count for the lower part of the leg),   I started it like the pattern had indicated.  I did the whole provisional cast-on/picot edge and about 4 rows of the pattern, all the time wondering why it was coming out so big... "Has my tension changed that much in (nearly) a year?  I'm already finding it hard to knit on... how in the world am I going to knit it TIGHTER???"  I kept going as long as I did, because I thought the stitch pattern probably drew in the knitting some, and that that would explain the difference.  It probably does draw it in... but not by that much.  At least I figured it out before I got any further.


2. I started working on the swatch/sleeve of the Denison pullover for my husband.   
   
   
   I'm worried that it's not going to work out.  I substituted yarns... the pattern uses Dale Heilo and states that the appropriate gauge is 24 sts/30 rows per 4" on size US 3-4 needles.  elann's Devon has a stated gauge of 25 sts/32 rows per 4" on size US 4 needles.  They're not using the same test knitter, though, so that could easily account for the difference in listed gauge.  elann's Devon also had about twice the yardage per ball... YEA!  That meant the sweater would cost less to make.  Here's the problem (which I didn't notice until after I started knitting): that double yardage is FOR THE SAME WEIGHT OF BALL... 50g  IMO, this is more like sock weight.  I liked the fabric on Knitpicks' US1s, and I think I would like it even better on US0's.    But, I'm rather irritated that I bought a whole sweater's worth of yarn based on what should have been enough information to give me what I want.  I don't have that kind of money to waste.
   
   
   Now that I've worked the swatch,  I'm even more certain it's not going to work.  I'm getting 7 to 7.25 sts/in, while the pattern calls for 6 sts/in.  The fabric is okay on the size 3's, but I'm fairly certain, unless it blooms quite a bit, that I would not be happy with it on 4's.  I do have an extra ball of the grey, and more than enough of the other colors, too.  If I made a few mods (ribbed hems instead of folded hems, and adding a few more rows of color here and there), I could probably make this work at the gauge I've got.  But, there's another problem.  The values of the different colors are not working well together.  In the example shown in the pattern, there is a natural progression of contrast in the colors for the fair isle portion.  Here, there is not.  the cream is very contrasty.  The green holds almost the same value as the grey.  And while the brown is a little darker than the green, it doesn't contrast a lot from the grey, either.  Besides not having the natural progression, you just wouldn't be able to see the patterning.  Elann is out of a lot of the colors of Devon, so I'm not even seeing any suitable substitutes.  This may be a no go in this yarn, I'm thinking I'll have to try something else.
   
   Are we sensing a theme here???


3. I cast on for a Red Scarf on Sunday. 
   
   
   Excuse the model's sleepy expression... he'd dozed off on the couch and I woke him up for the picture shoot. Please... DON'T tell me if the fringe is uneven. Fringe is one of a perfectionist's worst nightmares, and I'm trying to be all zen about it. If I get obsessive, I'm likely to end up with it all cut down to nubbins.
   
   I decided to knit a lengthwise self-fringing scarf in garter stitch stripes.  This might surprise anyone who knows me, because I'm definitely not a big fan of garter stitch.  Most of the time, I HATE it.  There are a few exceptions, though... I really like the way 2 row stripes in garter stitch look.  I like log cabin blankets.  And, it works for your basic workhorse dishcloth (after all, it's just a dishcloth).
   
   
   See how nice the stripes turned out?  I don't even mind the back of it, since it's at least symmetrical.
   
   I finished the knitting on the scarf on Wednesday, and mucked around a little yesterday and today getting the fringe all cut and tied up correctly.  This is probably the fastest that I've ever knit a scarf  (there's one other contender, but it was done with 2 strands of worsted weight held together, so the bulkiness made it go much faster).  Now don't get me wrong... it did take me many hours to do, but the stripes and the long rows made it really easy to just keep plowing through it.


4. I hunted down some eyes for Mr. Tubbs the snowman.  Now I need to have finished sewing them on and stuffing the head so that I can get start crocheting the body.
   
   


5. I also knit up a new dishcloth.  I found a new pattern I thought was pretty cool, and I had some variegated Sugar & Creme that I really loved and wanted to try out.
   
   
   I really like the rounded corners, but I'm not too excited by the x in holes (this is not lacy yarnovers, it's the result of short-rows) in the middle, I think it would look better if I used smaller needles (that's just generally true for garter stitch), and the size is bigger than I personally like my dishcloths.  I may have to tinker with the pattern to see if I can adjust it to suit my crazy perfectionist tastes.


6. I STILL have not started my Anemoi mittens.  I really want to do these, and I can't for the life of me figure out what's holding me back from casting on for them.